INFLATION: Nibbling at Food Prices

WHEN asked by a reporter what Americans
could do to hold down meat prices. President Nixon replied: "Don't buy
meat." Last week, in a somewhat more positive attack on the food price
problem, the President took a couple of long overdue actions that were
politically the least dangerous of several options open to him. Because
he stopped short of putting controls on the prices that farmers charge,
the chances are that his moves will not take much of a bite out of
retail food costs.

Nixon put a form of controls on the wholesalers and retailers of fresh
vegetables and...